Audiences in 1952 were disappointed with the revelation that Ian MacDonald was portraying Frank Miller. With his eventual appearance in the film being built up for more than an hour, fans were expecting a more well-known actor. Surveys taken at theaters revealed that Ward Bond, a frequent face in westerns, and Walter Brennan, a frequent co-star of Gary Cooper, were the top names the fans would have liked to see as Frank Miller. However, MacDonald's casting has become more appreciated as the film's legacy has grown.